The new partnership aims to develop stage projects from the 20th Century Fox film library.

NEW YORK — Tony Award-winning producer Kevin McCollum has joined forces with film producer John Davis and media executive Tom McGrath on a development deal with 20th Century Fox.

The partnership aims to identify properties from the Fox film library suitable for stage adaptation, and then shepherd those projects through creative development, reading and workshop phases.

"For years we have been eager to expand our entertainment expertise to the world of live stage, but we wanted to do it right and most importantly, with the right people," said 20th Century Fox chairman and CEO Jim Gianopulos. "We have been fortunate to have found great partners in Kevin, John and Tom to help to transform great Fox properties into exciting live stage entertainment for audiences everywhere."

The deal follows a similar first-look agreement set up last year between Sony Pictures and Scott Sanders Theatrical Productions.

Day-to-day operation on the Fox venture will be headed by McCollum, whose Broadway productions have included Rent, Avenue Q and In the Heights, as well as current smash Motown: The Musical. All three partners will continue to work on other projects while collaborating with Fox.

"Fox has produced thousands of celebrated musicals and films throughout its illustrious cinematic history," said Davis. "As such, it represents a great opportunity to transition this immense library to stage productions.”

Fox properties that have been retooled as Broadway musicals prior to the deal include last year's Tony winner Once, as well as 9 to 5, Young Frankenstein and Big. The stage adaptation of Fox Searchlight hit Little Miss Sunshine is being readied for a fall run Off Broadway.

McGrath, senior managing director of Los Angeles-based Crossroads Media, previously was involved during his tenure at Viacom in the adaptation into musicals of Paramount movies including White Christmas, Footloose and Saturday Night Fever.